Bristol shoppers in Broadmead and Quakers Friars have been tucking into bratwurst and sauerkraut and enjoying a touch of festive sparkle at a traditional German market.

The market opened yesterday under the Broadmead Christmas lights and has wooden chalets selling Christmas gifts.

The central feature is a Christmas pyramid - the biggest in the UK. These traditional German decorations have a revolving nativity scene powered by hot air from candles.

Yesterday shoppers enjoyed food from the stalls as they got into the festive spirit.

Students Sophie Szabo, 25, and Charlie George, 23, from Clifton, tucked into German sausages they bought at the Christmas Pyramid.

Miss George said: "It is so nice to have the lights and festivities, and the smell and the chocolates.

"It is so different to all the commercial shops, and it has a unique feel about it."

Her friend Miss Szabo said: "The market has a nice variety of stalls and makes you look forward to Christmas.

"I can't wait for it to get really dark and have all the Christmas lights on everywhere, and it is nice to have some Christmas music as well."

The German market has been brought to Bristol by Cabot Circus, the council and German company Wela Markte, which is run by childhood friends Harry Wegener and Andree Langenscheidt, whose families have been running Christmas markets for five generations.